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History
- Substituted by A9660
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.908
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the residency requirements for the position of constable in the village of West Hampton Dunes, county of Suffolk
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6800
Title of bill
An act to amend the village law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirements for the position of constable in the incorporated village of West Hampton Dunes, county of Suffolk to allow for the retention of current constables and enhance recruitment efforts for future personnel
Purpose
This legislation would afford the village of West Hampton Dunes greater flexibility and a broader pool of potential qualified candidates in recruiting and retaining current personnel for the position of Village Constable than is currently available due to statutory residency restrictions. The village Constable performs a critical law enforcement function and is integral to the maintenance of public safety and order in the village. This legislation would enhance the village's ability to effectively deliver public safety services by allowing it to recruit and or retain qualified individuals for the village Constable position, who are not Village residents, but who are residents of the county of Suffolk.
Read the full memo (614 words)
Summary of provisions
Section 3-300 of the village law is amended to add a new subdivision 21 to provide that the village Board of Trustees may, by resolution, provide that a Constable of the Village need not be a resident of the village, but must be a resident of the County of Suffolk. Section 3 of the public officers law is also amended by adding a new subdivision 59 so that the provision therein requiring a person to be a resident of the political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised shall not prevent a person from holding the office of village Constable provided such person resides in the county of Suffolk.
Justification
The Village presents a unique geographic and demographic profile. The village is a small coastal community located on a barrier island in the Town of Southampton. The village has a small population with most residential homes being primarily summer or beach houses and a significant portion of the inhabitants being seasonal and/or retirees (individuals age 65 and over make up roughly 37.50% of the population). There is no public transit system servicing the village.
In evaluating how to effectively address the village's public safety needs given the challenges presented by its unique geographical/demographic profile, the Village's Mayor and Trustees have explored alternative public safety models. village management has considered contracting for the use of police personnel from neighboring towns/villages, but this alternative presents issues because of the length response time required for such police personnel to get to the village, especially during inclement weather and during the village's busiest summer season when roads leading to the Village are crowded. Village management has also considered the establishment of its own police force, an alternative which would not be operationally feasible at this time. On an on-going basis, village management continues to monitor its public safety needs and how best to effectively address them.
Based on current circumstances, therefore, the village Constable model utilizing its existing personnel and others who may be recruited is the most feasible. However, the geographical isolation and demographic profile of the village make it impossible to effectively retain its existing personnel and recruit qualified candidates for village Constable positions solely from Village residents. Enlarging the residency requirement for village Constable to the County of Suffolk would enhance these retention and recruiting efforts and is necessary to ensure the village's capability to maintain and protect the safety and welfare of its inhabitants.
Legislative history
New Legislation, 2012
Fiscal implications
None to the state. The act would be cost neutral.
Effective date
This act will take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.